Presenters & Advisers
Lawrence C. Reardon 
Associate Professor
Faculty Adviser
"Leave your academic baggage at the door" might be a good sign for the entrance to Chris Reardon's office. In his 15 years at UNH, he's witnessed thousands of students ditch their notions of the "chore" of learning. "Suddenly, they begin discovering new things about the world and about themselves," he says, "and they realize 'academics' are not about the grades and quizzes, not a burden they must bear, but something they find fascinating."
He describes his students as the Indiana Joneses of the undergraduate world. "They are on a quest," he says. "Not for lost treasures, but for knowledge." Reardon works with students in the increasingly popular international affairs dual major where, on location, students examine such issues as corruption in Kenya, reproductive rights in communist nations, race, terrorism, cultural tensions, and more.
At this week's URC you’ll recognize their work by the project titles. They can be attention-getting: "Switzerland is Missing...from the European Union!"; provocative: "A Nuclear Iran?"; even seemingly ironic: "Euskal Herria: A Culture in Search of a Nation."
Where do the student explorers find inspiration for these timely, global investigations? Simply by opening their eyes to the world around them. "When they go abroad they should be thinking about what intrigues them," says Reardon. Upon return, the first thing they have to do is define the question, and the research flows from that point to the point at which they culminate their explorations by defending their findings to a greater audience.
"Presenting helps them complete the learning process," says Reardon. "It's a fantastic opportunity for them to disseminate their knowledge."
What's the payback for this faculty mentor? "I learn something every day," he says. "There are students here who have had experiences that I've never had. I can teach them how to analyze, but when they develop their argument, they bring their own perspective and experiences.
"I’m extremely proud of these people," adds Reardon. "They show what somebody at a public university can do, and that's top notch work."
